When can we take ondansetron?

I'm 8+2 and struggling awfully, as I did with my first. I'm on prochlorperazine twice daily which is no longer as effective as it used to be. I have some ondansetron at the back of my cupboard from my last pregnancy and am tempted to add it on. I seem to remember being told on my last pregnancy to wait until 12 weeks to take ondansetron because of the risk of cleft palette. Please can someone confirm when we're allowed to take it. I'm currently awaiting a GP appointment to discuss 2L therapy but it's not until 2nd June 😫 x

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If you’re really struggling, they can prescribe odansetron before 12 weeks but they have to check that you are aware of the increased risk and are happy to take it. In my first pregnancy I’m sure I took it just after 10 weeks and in my second I took it around 12 weeks

Thanks Anna x

I took them at 6 weeks in this pregnancy and in my first I took them before 12 weeks x

@Megan thanks Megan. May I ask if your first developed a cleft palate?

Hi Charlotte, I took ondansetron since week 5. My kid didn’t develop any anomalies. However, If I were you, I would go to the emergency room, and ask them to prescribe whatever needs to be prescribed. My meds were stopping to work after a few days taking them every time until they rose the doses and created a strict plan of times and eating schedules that I had to follow. Every half an hour I was either taking a pill or eating a small something. It wasn’t easy, but That schedule saved me. I had to go a few times to the ER (in USA) and only when I was about to need to be fed through that IV through your nose they actually prescribed the higher doses I needed of ondansetron, metoclopramide, and others… so keep insisting until they find the meds that help you. Also if you want me to send you the schedule I followed to discuss it with your doctors I can do that. But please don’t just automatically change your medications as you still need to be monitored by your docs.

I was on xonvea when the first medications didn’t work , it helped slightly and managed to get me to the second trimester they put me on ondansteron at 13 weeks. I’m now taking ondansteron and xonvea together which has worked. They did tell me I couldn’t take it untill the second trimester but I do know they can prescribe earlier if you are happy with the risks

@Charlotte - can't see 👋 hey, nope he didn’t. There’s only a very small percentage of it happening. Pregnancy sickness support has a good article on ondansetron x

I took it from 5 weeks and my baby is very healthy and had no cleft palette. They don’t make the same recommendation in Australia —it is considered very safe here with the benefits outweighing any small risks. However, I’d make sure you have enough so you don’t have to go on it and go back off before you can get more. I’d also tell your doctor you are taking it if you do so they are aware.

I took Ondanestron from 7 weeks right up until I gave birth to a perfect 9lb 6oz boy! X

@Melissa great to hear, thank you. Congratulations! X

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